Title: Redemptor

Series: Raybearer #2

Author: Jordan Ifueko

For the first time, an Empress Redemptor sits on Aritsar’s throne. To appease the sinister spirits of the dead, Tarisai must now anoint a council of her own, coming into her full power as a Raybearer. She must then descend into the Underworld, a sacrifice to end all future atrocities.

Tarisai is determined to survive. Or at least, that’s what she tells her increasingly distant circle of friends. Months into her shaky reign as empress, child spirits haunt her, demanding that she pay for past sins of the empire.

With the lives of her loved ones on the line, assassination attempts from unknown quarters, and a handsome new stranger she can’t quite trust . . . Tarisai fears the pressure may consume her. But in this finale to the Raybearer duology, Tarisai must learn whether to die for justice . . . or to live for it.

Wow this started off with a bang!

I absolutely loved Raybearer and when I got the chance to read this, I grabbed it with both hands!

Firstly I’m going to gush about the cover!  I thought Raybearer was a great cover but this was stunning!

I’m not going to really say anything about the plot because there such greatness in here, I don’t know if I could sum it up!

Tarisai defo went through it in this book and I felt for her but there were a few places she got on my nerves a bit!!!

A highlight for me was Sanjeet! Honestly every time he called her Sunshine Girl I was (inner) shouting, kiss him!!!! He wasn’t really in this book a lot and I was sad but I guess the story needed it!

My one critism here was that there were a lot of characters here, old and new, and I admit I did struggle to keep up with them all. I do wonder if reading instead of listening to the audio may have made this clearer for me. However this is not a reflection on the narrator, she was absolutely fabulous!

I loved this fast paced conclusion and can’t wait to see what this author writes next.

Title: The Book of Legends

Author: Lenny Henry

Two ordinary kids are about to go on one extraordinary adventure!

Bran and Fran love living with their mum, who is the storyteller at the Once Upon a Wow bookstore in their small Midlands town. But when mum goes missing and her stories turn out to be a portal to another world, they’re going to have a huge, magical adventure on their hands.

Luckily, they have Wilma, the Wizard’s Wife, and Zack, the wisecracking Zebracorn, to help them on their journey. And they’re going to need help because there are evil princes, mud monsters and Viking armies all standing in their way. . .

A collection of stories in a story inspired by legends following twins Bran and Fran.

Bran and Fran’s parents have disappeared, feared dead but are they?!! 

The twins get pulled into the Nine Dominions and are guided by their Mum’s book of stories.

Set partly in England, this story features murder fairies, a very funny zebracorn called Zachary and viking warriors and has very important messages contained.

Not quite sure if I was the right target audience but I really liked it so kids 100% will!

September YA theme – FAREWELL MY LOVE!

September is leaning into the unearthly and the box is dedicated to characters that have either been on the brink of death themselves… or have loved and lost. But goodbye doesn’t always have to mean forever, does it?

Items inspired by The Folk of the Air, Six Crimson Cranes, the featured book of the month and a fandom neutral item.

🖤 Botanic Coasters designed by @stellabookishart
🖤 Cardan Trinket Tray designed by @arz28
🖤 Belladonna Tea Tin designed by @chattynora
🖤 Blanket with art by @afterblossom.art inspired by Six Crimson Cranes
🖤 Tarot Cards – Signa and Death from Belladonna

BOOK OF THE MONTH

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

Exclusive cover
Stencilled edges
Artwork on hardcover by @taratjah
Endpaper art by @monolimeart
Signed

September theme – Book Devourers

We’re all book lovers here, and we all know that feeling of absolutely devouring a book we’re obsessed with. But what if we meant this….literally?

This month is a fandom neutral box!

💛 Great Libraries Book Pot designed by @chattynora
💛 Books Are My Weakness Organiser designed by @rosdottir
💛 Eat Your Words Snack Plates designed by @_studio_ao
💛 Choose Your (Bookish) Destiny Reading Prompt Card Set designed by @coverdungeonrabbit

💛 FEATURED BOOK 💛

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

Exclusive cover
Full colour printing on hardback by @rosiethorn88
Exclusive endpapers
Digitally printed edges
Signed

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Topic: Books I Read On Vacation

So I was lucky enough to have 2 holidays away this year but only read 3 books on them so I have also added the books I wanted to read but just didn’t have the time!

Which leads me on to a question – do you guys actually read much on holiday? I really don’t.

If we’re on the beach or by the pool, I’m in the water or we’re exploring the new place taking in the sights or we are off out in the evening doing stuff so I don’t really have the time!

Paignton, Devon, England
A Restless Truth by Freya Marske (arc)

Weymouth, Dorset, England
Golden Dynasty by Kristen Ashley (reread)
Zodiac Academy 4 by Caroline Peckham (reread)

Books I wanted to read but didn’t get to:

~ Beach Read by Emily Henry
~ You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry
~ Book Lovers by Emily Henry (reread)
~ It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey (I have read now!!!!)

What books did you read on holiday?

Title: Heartless

Author: Marissa Meyer

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland—the infamous Queen of Hearts—she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.

Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

I absolutely love a Marissa Meyer retelling so couldn’t wait to read the origin story of the Queen of Hearts!

The King loves Catherine……
Catherine loves the Court Joker
And Jest loves Catherine…….

Catherine Pinkerton is a normal girl who wants normal things, she wants to bake, she wants to fall in love and she wants to open a bakery with her friend, Mary Ann and she does not want to marry the King! And then she meets Jest. Aaaah Jest. He was the best!

But this was the downfall of Catherine Pinkerton…….this was dark, sad and tragic and, although I knew how this had to end, I didn’t want it to happen that way! My heart is broken!!!

I did find it a bit strung out but was an enjoyable read.

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.

Hi everyone, hope you’ve had a good week?

We had a busy week of doctors appointments, hair cuts and office visits so I was so glad to see the weekend arrive!

I also started a readalong with Tandem Collective UK of The Cruel Prince but we haven’t finished yet but nearly there!

I decided not to set any reading goals this week as I knew it would be a busy week but I actually did really well!

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What I’ve Read

🎧 Fire Falling by Elisa Kova
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
See my review here

🎧 The Theft of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
See my review here

🎧 The Book of Legends by Lenny Henry
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
See my review here

Zodiac Academy #6 by Caroline Peckham
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reread – see my original review here

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New arrivals

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

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You might have missed…..

Review – Frost by CN Crawford
Review – Babel by RF Kuang
Feature – New-to-me authors
Review – City of Thorns by CN Crawford
Feature – Book I want in November

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What have you read lately?

Back to the roulette game of can I only pick 3 books to buy this month……and I’m happy to say I’ve passed!!! Let’s not mention that it was 4 but the date got pushed to 2023 for one!!!!

I also have preordered them all already 🤣

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn
Cursed by Marissa Meyer
A Light in the Flame by Jennifer L Armentrout

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What books are you looking forward to?

Title: City of Thorns

Series: The Demon Queen Trials #1

Author: CN Crawford

I never thought I’d be singing happy birthday to myself in a dungeon. And yet when a sinfully sexy demon crashes happy hour, that’s exactly what happens. He’s known as the Lord of Chaos, he’s mistaken me for my succubus doppelgänger.

Happy birthday to me.

When he tastes my blood, he finally understands I’m mortal. And I realize we have something in common: we both crave revenge. So we make a deal: I can stay in the forbidden city to hunt for my mom’s killer. In return, I’ll help him get the vengeance he craves. I just have to pose as a sexy succubus. One problem–he’s my number one suspect.

And that’s increasingly hard to remember as he teaches me my role: seduction. With each heated touch I drift further into peril. And if I fall under his seductive spell, death awaits me.

After reading Frost I decided I needed to read more books from this author and I can confirm that I’m now hooked!

This was delish and I read it so quick, just gobbled down those words!

Rowan is struggling in life to get herself where she wants to be. Behind the gates of the demon city, City of Thorns, so she can get revenge on the demon who murdered her Mum. Then she meets Orion, Lord of Chaos and it all goes off!!!!!

Rowan was so amazing, she was actually so relatable. ‘Well, you have magic, and I have my own superpower. It’s called anxiety.’

Orion….I’ve read his story and seen some character art and I am SOLD!

It was a fast paced story, thrills in every chapter plus the chemistry, banter and the tension was so good!

Next book please!!!!